BBC accused of creating ‘toxic culture’ in letter protesting closure of centuries-old choir

In a letter criticizing the closure of the 99-year-old choir, senior BBC management were accused of fostering a “toxic culture” of “DG-down”.

The co-directors of BBC Singers, the BBC’s face-to-face choir, backed the claim in a letter to BBC chairman Richard Sharp.

The decision to close the nearly 100-year-old choir has met with fierce opposition and is one of many crises currently engulfing the BBC. The BBC says it is in talks with the Musician’s Union about the plan, as an online petition criticizing it has passed 100,000 signatures and another signed by 700 composers is to BBC director-general Tim Davie , send.

One of the damning claims made by Jonathan Manners and Rob Johnston, acting co-directors of the BBC Singers, is that the BBC now has a recurring narrative of toxic culture, which is reflected in the working environment from director general down.

They also claimed: “A culture of fear and paranoia has been created as seismic decisions about the company’s future are made quickly without proper analysis or meaningful consideration.”

The letter, first published by classical music news website Slipped Disc, claims that only one senior BBC executive had heard the BBC singers before the choir was announced last week.

The closure will result in the loss of 20 jobs and is part of a wider initiative to cut BBC spending on its paid orchestral posts by 20%. The BBC said the “difficult decision” had been taken to invest more in choral groups and launch a new talent development programme.

In addition to various complaints about the strategy behind and the implementation of the closure, the authors claim to have seen ‘aggressive and confrontational dialogue’ from BBC managers.

They claim that BBC pop music controller Lorna Clarke dismissed questions at a meeting with BBC Singers last week and that Simon Webb, head of orchestras and choirs, “wept in the room” when she left.

The letter also criticized a “sharp contrast” between internal and external communications surrounding the shutdown and called a press release “a gross embarrassment and neglect of facts.”

“We are all shocked by the events of the last few months and we believe they are at odds with the BBC’s core values,” the letter concluded. “We both have no faith in the BBC’s senior management and believe that you, as chairman of the company, must accept full responsibility for the crisis we are going through.”

The letter caps a miserable few days for the BBC. The high-profile Gary Lineker scandal challenged management’s interpretation of impartiality time for questions Presenter Fiona Bruce has had to give up her role at a violence against women charity after she was criticized for defending allegations against Boris Johnson’s father.

Meanwhile, Sharp remains in the firing line for facilitating a loan for former prime minister Johnson and BBC News staff will strike tomorrow over budget cuts.

The BBC had not yet responded to the letter at press time, a spokesperson said The Daily Telegraph: “We know this is an extremely difficult time for everyone affected by these proposed changes.

“Throughout the process, we have acted with integrity and sought to connect with people in meaningful ways, and while some may disagree with the difficult decisions we have had to make during difficult financial times, we have the classic carefully considered strategy and carefully developed.

“We will continue to do everything we can to support those affected by these changes and to engage with the industry and we are in consultation with the musicians’ union.”